Method of making rubber hose



Mardi 9".-5571941- i c. D. GARRr-:TsoN f 2.236.171 l A. METHOD QF MAKING RUBBER HQS'E y original Filed Jn. 14, 19:56 2 snets-shgn 2` Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING RUBBER HOSE Cornelius D. Garretson, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Electric Hose and Rubber Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Original application January 14, 1936, Serial No. 59,137. Divided and this application October 25, 1938, Serial No. 236,955

6 Claims. (Cl. 154-8) 10 is often required to withstand exceedingly heavy are unequal.

internal pressures, as in the case of oxy- It is a further object to provide a method of acetylene hose, pressure greasing hose, and high making an integral multiple channel hose with pressure air hose. the aid of a lead press.

When previous types of hose have been sub- It is also an object to provide a method of mak- 15 jected to high pressures, these products have had ing an integral multiple channel hose with the a tendency to become distorted, the character of aid of a preformed mold. the distortion depending on the manner in which It ls finally an object to provide a. method of the hose was made. y making an integral multiple channel hose from For instance, ordinary hose containing layers two preformed hose sections in such a way that 20 of fabric between layers of rubber tends to eX- the channels of the hose sections are spaced apart pand transversely and hence become shorter by an amount greater than the thickness of the longitudinally when the layers of fabric have walls of the individual hose members. the thread braided in an overlapping diagonal With the above and other objects in View which relation, whereas hose which is wound more or will be apparent as the description proceeds, I 25 less transversely tends to lengthen and, therehave set forth my invention in the following fore, have a reduced diameter when the fluid specification and illustrated it in the accompanypassing through it exerts a substantial pressure ing drawings in which: against its internal wall. Figure l is a perspective view of an improved 'I'his result is particularly annoying when the double hose unit; 30 decrease in' length between xed connections Fig- 2 1S 9 transverse Section on the line 2-2 tends to rupture same, or where it pulls a free of Fig. 1: end of the hose up to an inconvenient height. Fig- 3 iS 8- 121911 of 8' lead mold out away to ShOW This condition becomes aggravated when it is a piece oi rubber hose therein; desired to use a double hose, and especially if Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4 35 pressure in the adjacent parallel hose members of Fig. 3;

is unequal. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a single type rubber I have discovered that the distortion can be hose With out away Portions to disclose the coneliminated if a substantially transverse winding Stlution is interposed bei-,Ween two layers of crisscmss Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 40 diagonal braiding, as these windings may be 0f Fig- 5:

balanced to compensate for the expansion and Fg- 7 is a: plan View 0f the type of hose shown contraction referred to above, thus producing the lnj mth 9' pomo of the intermediate web 45 result of constant diameter and constant fIlillig. 8'I is a transverse section on the line l-l 1 have e150 discovered that it is pessime to g' make a practical integral double hose, and that eiguealsgeeowghrszhoai tillage: sflch a' hose can be made resistant to deforma" Fig. 10 is a transverse section through double tion, even when unequal pressures are being hose containing a Wire webbing instead of a 50 used in parallel channels, by employing the imcotton webbing;

proved Winding referred t- Flg, 11 is a plan view of two pieces of hose cor- It is therefore an object of this invention to responding to Figs. and 6 arranged on either provide an integral multiple channel hose and a side of a. preformed piece of solid rubber method of making same. preparatory to feeding them into the dies which 55 It is also an object to provide an integral give them the preliminary form of the desired This invention relates to the art of rubber hose, and more particularly to an improved method of making it.

The present application is a. division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 59,137, filed January 14, 1936, now abandoned.

Rubber hose is made for a variety of purposes, including the transmission of water, air and various other uids, as well as mobile solids, and

multiple channel hose with free connections at both ends.

It is a further object to make an integral multiple channel hose which is capable of carrying different preures in its various channels without distortion.

It is another object to make an integral multiple channel hose in which the external and internal diameters of the various hose sections .earch Room integral member, such as that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a transverse section through two pieces of preformed hose of modified constructionapreparatory to uniting same;

Fig. 13 is a transverse section through two pieces of preformed hose similar to the construction shown in Fig. 12, except that the two preformed hose sections are of equal diameter;

Fig. 14 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a two-part aluminum mold with a portion cut away to show a piece of integral multiple channel rubber hose therein; and

Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the line |5|5 of Fig. 14.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and l1, my improved hose may comprise an integral double hose 20 made of preformed single hose members 2| and 22 and a preformed solid rubber strip 23 of subtantially four-cusped vI iypocycloidal cross-secion.

Members 2| and 22 are preferably of similar construction, which is shown in detail with respect to member 2| in Figs. 5 and 6, and each have a channel 29 therethrough.

As indicated therein, hose member 2| comprises an internal rubber core 24 provided with a layer of diagonally braided cotton fabric 25, a layer of transversely Wound cotton thread 26 superposed thereon, a layer of diagonally braided cotton fabric 21 formed therearound, and an outer cover of rubber 28.

The layers of cotton fabric 25, 26 and 21 collectively form the reinforcements 30 for the hose members 2| and 22. 'I'he layers of cotton fabric 25, 26 and 21 are separated by rubber cement or intervening layers of rubber (not shown) in the usual way Where desired,

Having formed the hose members 2| and 22 in the usual way by extrudingtherubber core 24 through suitable die's'braiding a layer of fabric i 25 therearound, applying a layer of rubber cement or rubber thereto, winding this with a transverse winding 25, applying an additional layer of rubber cement or rubber thereto, braiding another coating of cotton fabric 21 therearound, and providing this with a rubber cover 28, these members 2| and 22 are assembled on either side of the preformed rubber strip 23 as shown in Fig. 11. They are then ready for feeding into a die 35, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11, which compresses them together and gives them a preliminary form of the desired unitary member.

Of course, the imparting of this preliminary form may be done in any well-known way, as by passing the preformed members through pressure rolls (not shown).

As the thus formed unitary member leaves the die 35, a lead mold 36, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is formed in situ therearound in the way commonly employed in the manufacture of single hose. In this operation, the assembled preformed members are fed into a lead press, where they pass through a male die that is arranged in proximity to a female die insuch a way that the lead surrounds the assembled preformed members as they emerge from the male die and pass into the female die, thus forming the lead mold shown in Figs. 3and 4.

The thus encased unitary member 20 is then vulcanized as usual, after which the mold is cut away, leaving the finished integral multiple channel hose 20.

Where desired, the lead mold 36 may be replaced by a twopart preformed mold 4| of aluminum or any other suitable material. like that shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and succeeding portions of the unitary member subjected to intermittent vulcanizing operations. Such two-part molds, comprising the sections 42 and 43, are wrapped with cloth. such as two inch width cotton sheeting 44, to hold them together during the vulcanizing operation, this wrapping being done in any suitable wrapping machine. The mold sections are disassembled after the vulcanizing operation, and used over and over again.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it is a particular feature of my invention that the construction described and illustrated permits the easy removal of a portion of the intermediate web 23 wherever desired in order to permit of coupling the component hose members 2| and 22 to any desired object, as the terminals of an acetylene torch (not shown). The desired portion of the intermediate web 23 is easily removed without damaging the hose members 2| and 22, by cutting or grinding, thus facilitating the cutting of the hose members 2| and 22 to any desired relative lengths, and permitting their separate attachment to any desired object.

This easy method of attachment would not be possible were the unitary hose member made as a solid member (not shown) by uniting two preformed tubular members directly to one another, and encasing these two members in a single superposed rubber coating, either with or without the addition of further cotton reinforcing around both of the preformed members, although this latter method of forming an integral multiple channel hose is within the purview of the broader aspects of my invention.

As shown in Fig. 9, my invention may be made in the form of a unitary multiple channel hose 20 comprising preformed rubber hose members 2| and 22' of different external and/or internal diameters, having channels 29 and 29 respectively therethrough, and an intermediate preformed web member 23'. As illustrated therein, members 2| and 22 are preferably provided with reinforcements 30, 30', respectively, corresponding to the reinforcement 3|) shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The webbing 23' is thicker at one side than at the other in order to step down the diameter from the larger hose member 2| to the smaller hose member 22' with the maximum of added strength consistent with minimum weight.

This modification of my invention is preferably made in the same way as described above for the multiple channel hose 20.

As shown in Fig. 10, the cotton fabric reinforcement 30 and/ or 30' in either the single or multiple channel hose may be replaced by a similar reinforcement 30 in which the cotton thread is replaced by steel wire. In some cases it may be desirable to use a cotton reinforcement in one hose member and a wire reinforcement in the other hose member. This form of my invention is provided with channels 29".

As also illustrated in Fig, 10, the web 23 in any of the embodiments of my invention may be provided with additional reinforcing 40 of cotton or wire fabric.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a further modification of my invention in which the hose members 2| and 22' are preformed with cooperating anges 23". When these hose members are assembled as shown in Fig. 12 and subjected to the pressure of a die 35, or of pressure rolls (not shown), and the subsequent vulcanization, the flanges 23" become integrally united to form the web 23'. This permits the production of my improved tubing from two instead of three preformed members.

The form of my invention shown in Fig. 1 may be magg similarly, as shown in Fig. 13. Here the hose members 2| and 22, of equal size, and provided with the channels 29, are also provided with cooperating flanges 23" which are integrally united to form the web 23 in the manner explained above.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the two-part molds of aluminum, or any other suitable material. are preformed as separate sections 42 and 43, each of which is provided with channels 45 that are one-half the depth of the preformed hose 2| and 22 that are to be used. Similarly, the rib 46, which separates these two channels 45, is lower than the external ribs 4'| on the mold sections 42 and 43 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the cooperating flange 23" which it is to receive. Consequently, when the preformed hose sections 2| and 22, provided Wlth the cooperating flanges 23", are assembled in mold section 43 and mold section 42 is placed thereover, the resulting mold will be as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. This is then wrapped with the cotton sheeting 44, in any desired machine, to hold the mold sections tightly together while the hose is being vulcanized. After this operation is finished, the cotton sheeting is unwound, the mold sections 42 and 43 are disassembled, and the finished integral multiple channel hose is removed.

In the manufacture of all forms of my invention, the tubing is prevented from collapsing during the vulcanizing operation in any conventional manner, as by the use ofiluid pressurevin channelsZS. 29. or 29", or by the use oi' removable mandrelsint shown) therein. In case the latter are usedfthey are, of course, removed after the vulcanizing operation is completed.

Where it is desired to impart any special configuration to the exterior of the finished hose,

such as corrugations, this is done by making the dies used in the lead press, or the molds, with the desired configuration in order that this can be imparted to the finished hose by the time the vulcanizing operation is completed.

It will be apparent that the shape of the intermediate web 23 or 23' and the fillet between the web and the adjacent portions of the periphery of the hose members 2| and 22 or 22', may be varied as desired. Similarly, the hose members 2|, 22 or 22' may be made the same color or of different colors, as by making hose member 2| red and hose member 22 green.

Although I have used the term hose herein in referring to my invention and one of its component parts, I Wish it to be understood to mean both hose" and tubing as these terms are used in the art It will readily be understood that, although I have shown only single and double channel hose herein, multiple channel hose containing a .greater number of channels may be made in a similar manner where desired.

It will also be apparent that, although I have shown three layers of reinforcement in Figs. 5 and 6, the number of these reinforcing layers may be reduced where expansion, contraction, strength and durability are not important, and may be increased where added strength and durability are desired.

My multiple channel hose is adapted for a wide range of uses, as examples of which I may men tion acetylene torches, paint sprays and grease bBICil HUM and air hose, in which the two materials used are introduced into the two channels of the double hose member and are simultaneously conveyed to the acetylene torch, paint spray or grease gun, and there subjected to the desired intermingling. In acetylene torches, for example, one channel is usually for oxygen of about 50 pounds pressure per square inch, whereas acetylene is introduced into the other channel at pressures up to about 300 pounds per square inch.

My preferred multiple hose illustrated herein is adapted to withstand pressures, for example, up to 2,000 pounds per square inch Where desired, and does not show any substantial deformation, even when one channel contains a iiuid which is under exceedingly high pressure and the other channel contains a low pressure uid.

My improved multiple hose, disclosed herein, has been subjected to continued exing operations and repeated abrasion tests, as well as to oppositely directed stresses tending to separate the members 2| and 22, and has successfully stood up when these tests have been made exceedingly severe.

The cotton fabric reinforcements 25, 26 and 21 and the wire reinforcements 30 may be made single single, single double, double double or any other desired winding without departing from the spirit of my invention, and the rubber compound used may be any suitable formulation of crude rubber, crude and reclaimed rubber, neoprene or mixtures of neoprene and crude and/or reclaimed rubber.

It will, therefore, be apparent that I have developed new and improved types of single and multiple hose, and methods of making same, that are highly resistant to distortion in use, and highly efficient in transmitting a single fluid or a plurality of uids to a desired destination.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the foregoing embodiments or description except as indicated in the following claims:

I claim:

1. The method of making an integral multiple channel hose which comprises forming a plurality of rubber hose members, placing a twopartrnvgld around a predetermined length of said preformed members with adjacent portions of said preformed members in contact, wrapping the mold sections with cloth, vulcaniziig' the portion of the assembled members held by the mold, removing said mold, and repeating the steps of placing a two-part mold around the assembled members, Wrapping. vulcanizing, and removing the mold with respect to successive lengths of the resulting unitary member.

2. The method of making an integral multiple channel hose which comprises forming a plurality of rubber hose members with a substantially iiat iiange extending longitudinally along one side of each hose member, placing a twopart mold around a. predetermined length of said preformed members, with said flanges arranged in contact and placed one above the other, wrapping the mold sections with cloth, vulcanizing the portion of the assembled members held by the mold, removing said mold, and repeating the steps of placing a two-part mold around the assembled members. wrapping, vulcanizing, and removing the mold with respect to successive lengths of the resulting unitary member.

3. The method of making an integral multiple channel hose which comprises forming a pluralityof rubber hose members and a rubber strip of hypocycloidal cross-section, assembling said rubber hose members on either side of the preformed strip, feeding these members between a pair of dies to form them into a unitary member, placing a twoprt mold around a predetermined lengtlof said unitary member, wrapping the mold sections with cloth, vulcanizing the portion of the unitary member held by the mold, removing said mold, and repeating the steps of placing a two-part mold around the unitary member, wrapping, vulcanizing, and removing the mold with respect to successive lengths of the unitary member.

4. The method of making an integral multiple channel hose which comprises forming a plurality of rubber hose members, one of which members is provided with a substantially flat ilange extending longitudinally along one side, placing a tyLQznartmold around a predetermined length of said preformed members, with the free side of the flanged member arranged in contact with a side of the other preformed member, Wrapping the mold sections with cloth, vulcanizing the portion of the assembled members held by the mold, removing said mold, and repeating the steps of placing a two-part mold around the assembled members, Wrapping, vulcanizing, and removing the mold with respect to successive lengths of the resulting unitary member.

5. The method of making an integral multiple channel hose which comprises forming a plurality of rubber hose members, placing a twopart aluminum mold around a predetermined length of said preformed members with adjacent portions of said preformed members in contact, wrapping the mold sections with cloth, vulcanizing the portion of the assembled members held by the mold, removing said mold, and repeating the steps of placing a two-part aluminum mold around the assembled members, wrapping, vulcanizing, and removing the mold with respect to successive lengths of the resulting unitary member.

6. The method of making an integral multiple channel hose which comprises forming a plurali'ty of rubber hose members with a. substantially flat flange extending longitudinally along one side of each hose member, placing a two-part aluminum mold around a predetermined 'length of said preformed members, With said flanges arranged in contact and placed one above the other, wrapping the mold sections with cloth, vulanizing the portion of the assembled members held by the mold, removing said mold, and repeating the steps of placing a two-part aluminum mold around the assembled members, wrapping, vulcanizlng, and removing the mold with respect to successive lengths of the resulting unitary member.

CORNELIUS D. GARRETSON. 

